Are You Addicted to Adrenaline in Your Business?

For years, I’ve noticed a pattern with small to midsize companies. They go through cycles of intense activity and success, followed by burnout and stagnation. It left me wondering, why do they do this to themselves?

Wouldn’t consistent, stable performance be more productive and less stressful?

Then I had a flashback to my college days—nights filled with fun and excitement, followed by a miserable day of hangovers. But, like clockwork, we’d recover by the afternoon and be ready for the next night of partying.

This same cycle showed up in my business life. I’d work late, fueled by adrenaline, run on 4 hours of sleep, and drag through the next day. Eventually, I’d catch up by burning the midnight oil again, always chasing the next deadline with nothing but adrenaline and coffee keeping me going.

The Adrenaline Roller Coaster

We had a longer cycle too: after winning 3-4 major engagements and enjoying cash infusion, we’d slack off on business development. The result? Our sales pipeline dried up, leading to a crisis that forced us to scramble for new business. We’d rely on fear-driven adrenaline to get back on track.

I see this pattern with a lot of business owners—they procrastinate until the fire is nipping at their heels. Then, they sprint to save the day: rescuing unhappy clients, winning new clients, or collecting overdue payments.

And then? The inevitable crash. The “hangover.” The business starts to slide, and the cycle repeats.

Your Team Is Watching

The problem is, your team notices this pattern too. Before you know it, they start mirroring your behavior—getting motivated only when things are falling apart. Soon enough, your business is always in crisis mode.

(And they might even take pride in saving the day after creating their own mess. Worse, you’ll probably reward them for it!)

Adrenaline in Business Is Like Doping in Sports

Adrenaline might feel like it gives you superhuman powers, but like doping in sports, it comes with a cost. Here’s what adrenaline does to your body:

• It makes your heart race
• Pumps oxygen into your bloodstream
• Raises your blood sugar
• Dilates your pupils for better vision
• Sharpen your focus and alertness

Sounds great, right? But the bill always comes due. The “morning after” looks like this:

• You’re exhausted
• Anxious and restless
• Emotionally drained
• Head pounding, maybe even trembling or dizzy.

This adrenaline-fueled rollercoaster—from hyperactivity to burnout—is like bipolar disorder, swinging from euphoria to depression. It’s NOT a recipe for business growth or high performance.

The Long-Term Damage

Running your business on adrenaline won’t just burn you out—it’ll also drive away valuable employees. Nobody wants to live in constant upheaval.

And this constant cycle of extremes? It’s physically and emotionally taxing, makes you sick, and prevents you from developing productive habits.

How to Break the Adrenaline Addiction

So, how do you fix your adrenaline addiction?

There’s no magic bullet, but there is a simple cure. Like any bad habit, you have to commit to replacing it with healthy business routines. Practice it until it becomes second nature.

I call these routines: The 15 Business Growth Practices™, and you can check them out here.

Start small: experiment with one or two of these free tools in your business. Turn them into habits. Then, add more next month or next quarter.

And if you have any questions or need advice, send me an email at steve@stevepreda.com.